By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Springville, Tenn.—Henry County Sheriff’s deputies were injured while trying to arrest a man from Springville late Wednesday night and were unable to call for help for several minutes due to bad radio reception in that area.
John Logan Smothers, age 34, of 1256 Copper Springs Rd., is in the Henry County Jail on charges of evading, possession of meth, assaulting officers, resisting arrest and public intoxication.
Cpl. Stacey Bostwick said in his report that Smothers threatened to kill the deputies several times during the chase and lengthy arrest. Bostwick said it was apparent that Smothers “was manifestly under the influence of a controlled substance during this altercation and displayed super human-like strengths during the assault” on the officers.
According to Bostwick’s report, he and Deputy Kyle Waldron went to Smothers’ residence because Smothers had an active warrant for violation of sentence.
“Upon our arrival we found Smothers standing in the front yard picking grass and placing it in a yellow bucket he was holding. Upon Smothers seeing us he immediately placed his left hand behind his back and would not remove it,” Bostwick said. “Smothers was given several orders to show us his hands and to drop the bucket he was holding. Deputy Waldron and myself advanced towards Smothers still demanding him to show us his hands and advising him that he was under arrest.”
At this point Smothers threw down the bucket he was holding and began fleeing on foot. Both Bostwick and Waldron deployed their tasers but they were unsuccessful because of the heavy winter coat Smothers was wearing.
A lengthy foot pursuit followed which lead the deputies into the woods across from the residence. “Once in the woods Deputy Waldron was able to grab ahold of Smothers and take him to the ground. Smothers became very combative and began fighting both Deputy Waldron and myself,” Bostwick said.
“Smothers attempted to bite Deputy Waldron and kick and strike us in the process. Smothers stated several times that he was going to kill both of us if we did not let him up,” according to Bostwick. “Due to the poor radio service in the area neither deputy was able to radio for assistance for several minutes as the struggle continued.”
Deputy Waldron was finally able to get out on his radio and requested back up. Bostwick was able to get Smothers’ left hand placed in a handcuff but he was laying on his right hand and refused to remove it out from underneath him.
Both Deputies were to the point of physical exhaustion when Sgt. Blake Jenkins and a Deputy from the Benton County Sheriffs Office arrived, Bostwick said.
Smothers continued to resist all four deputies but was able to be taken into custody. Smothers continued to fight and resist the deputies all the way to Sgt. Jenkins’ patrol vehicle. Smothers was dry stunned with the taser several times and pepper sprayed during the struggle to be taken into custody. Physical force was also used on Smothers.
Both Deputy Waldron and Bostwick sustained injuries to their hands and faces due to the assault and both Sgt. Jenkins and the Benton County Deputy were kicked several times as well during the process.
Smothers continued to advise all the deputies on the scene that he was going to kill all of the deputies.
Found on Smothers person was a clear plastic bag containing approximately 3 grams of a white crystal like substance believed to be Meth.